INQUIRER Volume 6, Issue 01, January, 2003, Long Island Secular Humanists Box 119, Greenlawn, NY 11740, Email: LISecHum@aol.com . A Thumbs Up Publication Editor: Gerald Dantone, Art Design: John R. Wilmarth Copyright LISH 2000 (All articles in this newsletter may be reprinted by organizations affiliated with the Council for Secular Humanism with a reciprocating reprinting agreement with LISH, so long as the article is used in full and with complete crediting. Edited versions can be used with written permission.)
NOTICE TO LISH Supporters: What level of association with the Council for Secular Humanism should LISH choose: “Cooperating Local Group,” “Allies,” or “Primary Allies”?LISH QUESTION OF THE MONTH
For details on these levels of cooperation see the article by John Rafferty in this issue, or go to http://nyhumanist.org/messages/bruckner_csh.htm for the text of a letter by CSH Executive Director Ed Buckner, or go to www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/kurtz_22_4.htm to see an editorial on the topic by Paul Kurtz.
Forward your answers to LISecHum@aol.com or write to LISH, PO Box 119, Greenlawn, NY 11740.TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Irony of it All
1)
2) Letters to the Editor
3) The Purpose of Gods
4) Origins - Part 4 Earth and the Birth of Life
5) Making the Rounds with Norm
6) Quickies
7) Myths to Live By, And To Kill For
LISH MEETING INFORMATION
DARWIN DAY APPROACHING!
Darwin Day will be celebrated on 2PM, Saturday, February 8, 2003 at the
Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library. Guest
speakers will include former senior editor of Discover Magazine, Carl Zimmer, Stony Brook
Prof. Elof Carlson, LISH President Gerry Dantone and musical
guest Sonny Meadows.
Carl Zimmer will talk about a
little known aspect of Darwin's work -- the years he spent poring over barnacles and
orchids. Most people who know about this time think of it as a period when he was
avoiding dealing with his theory of evolution. But just the opposite is true -- this
gentleman's hobby revealed to him one of the most important features of evolution -- how
radically new body plans emerge from ordinary variation. The title of the talk will
be: “Barnacles and Orchids: Darwin Killing Time or Discovering Evolution? Carl
Zimmer is a science writer who has produced numerous articles and books about
evolution. He was a senior editor at Discover magazine from 1994 to 1999 and now
contributes articles to magazines including National Geographic and Science. His
column "The Evolutionary Front" appears regularly in Natural History. His
books include “Parasite Rex and Evolution: The Triumph of An Idea.” His
next book, “To Paint the Soul,” will appear in October.
Prof. Elof Carlson's talk will
be entitled: “Darwinism confirmed through comparative genomics.” Elof Axel
Carlson is distinguished teaching professor emeritus from the department of biochemistry
and cell biology at Stony Brook University. He is the author of several books, his
most recent being “The Unfit: A History of a Bad Idea” (CSHL Press 2001) and his
current book in production is a history of classical genetics (due out spring 2003.
He is also a science columnist for several LI NorthShore newspapers. In his
retirement Carlson is writing about science. He is a geneticist and historian of science.
LISH President Gerry Dantone
will talk briefly on “Evolution: Is it Moral?”
Visit LISH on the web: http://nyhumanist.org/lish.htm or
http://nyhumanist.org/
THE IRONY OF IT ALL Gerry
Dantone
It was particularly ironic that on a day in December 2002 that Senator
Trent Lott was chastised by President Bush for his endorsement of decades-old
discriminatory policies and Cardinal Law resigned his leadership of the Boston Diocese of
the Catholic Church that the President chose to announce his program to funnel Federal tax
dollars to religious groups in the latest incarnation of his Faith-based initiative.
What is ironic about this?
The irony is that the legalization of Federal Aid for the support of social programs run
by religious organizations that discriminate in hiring and in servicing of potential
clients is obviously an objective that would be dear to Sen. Lott's heart. This
discrimination is often described by apologists as a form of "moral standards,"
but most of us realize that it actually is religious discrimination by religious
rivals. What is less often explained is that other forms of discrimination, such as
race and gender discrimination, would also be allowed under Bush's plan. The fact is
that religious organizations are exempt from civil rights laws; secular organizations are
not when accepting tax dollars.
Religious organizations are also not subject to the same government scrutiny as are
secular institutions that accept tax dollars. Would this lead to abuses paid for by
your tax dollar? Would tax dollars flow to institutions that pay or have paid large
sums of money to sex abuse victims for their silence, only to lead to further abuse of
other innocent children? Is all this irony lost on everyone else?
Yes, all this is possible and probable under the Faith-based plan. And of course,
those religious institutions that support the President are more likely to receive funding
in the first place. Isn't that right, Pat Robertson?
[TOC]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Re: LISH Question of the month: What should be the appropriate focus or mission of
coalitions of humanist, atheist and/or freethinking groups?
11/5/02 Most important would be number 1 below: 1) Political Action Committee - Let's get
that "Godless" PAC going. Perhaps we need local-based Godless PACs as
well. I had a candidate for Congress show up at one of my Secular Humanist group
meetings. He was kicked out of parochial school for asking too many questions like
"Who created Gawd?" If we had a PAC in place we could have given him some
badly needed funding. Hope he wins tomorrow. It's about 50/50 right now for
him. 2) Letting the "not-out-of-the-closet-quite-yet" people know there is
NOTHING wrong with them and that they should be PROUD of their creed. 3) Educating those
who are best "nominal" religionists that they really are Secularists and that
their gods (at least as dictated by the major religions) do not exist. Kind of a
reachout to the "on-the-fence" crowd. Plus, Gerry, Nice singing on
Saturday at the GAMOW. And, it was great seeing all the various Freethought groups
get together for this. Seeing Ed on stage with Ellen and Margaret was
fantastic! Cheers, Pete Hance via Internet.
Response: Good ideas and thanks all around! Actually
you're being kind about my singing since on one tune, “Love is the Only Priest,”
I could not really hear myself or the music and thus was not quite on pitch. Such is
what happens when you perform live without a sound check! G.D.
11/7/02 Recruit, Recruit and Recruit. Where? Colleges high schools,
Waldbaum's, (sale on chickens this week) wherever. Maybe we can learn from the Mormon
model. Secular Humanist must stop preaching to the converted and get the message out to
the public. John Lucania, Whitestone, via Internet.
Response: Getting the word out is probably a prerequisite to
success! G.D.
11/6/02 Answer: Take over or at least dominate the Democratic Party so as to draw clear
distinctions between the liberal and conservative worldviews. Dennis Coyier via
Internet
Response: In a sense the choice has been lately between the
ignorantly reckless and the cowardly. It is time for the Democrats to get a clue and
some gumption so that there is a better choice. G.D.
11/11/02 A letter writer to the NY Times has urged Darrell Lambert, the Eagle Scout facing
expulsion from the Boy Scouts for refusing to profess belief in God, to start his own
organization that respects the religious beliefs of others.
Before he does that, perhaps the young man should ask the Scout organization why they
insist he believe in a deity--described as all-knowing, all-powerful and all-merciful --
who is credited with creating a species so badly designed that its members are constantly
afflicted with painful and deadly ills; so morally deficient that its nations viciously
destroy one another rather than reason through their disagreements; and so callously
selfish that they allow great numbers of their fellow species members to die of
poverty-caused starvation and disease, even while resources exist to prevent it.
For that matter, he might ask why the species was so ridiculously engineered that its male
members sport totally non-functional nipples on their chests. Does that suggest
"intelligent design" or some other force--evolution, perhaps?
If the Scout administrators respond that their deity assigned free will to the members of
this species, and (as many contend) that its follies and cruelties are their own choice...
or that a malign fallen angel, Satan, is actually the cause... perhaps young Mr. Lambert
might ask: Doesn't your all-knowing, all-powerful deity have foreknowledge of this, and
the power to prevent it? Indeed, why did a "perfect" being need to create
such a slew of imperfect beings at all?
Finally, the young man might ask: Blind faith in something that can never be truly known
may indeed be deeply reassuring to many in an uncertain and often frightening universe,
but doesn't it have a devastating effect on one's devotion to logic and reason... as is
evidenced in the present instance by the Boy Scouts themselves? Gerald Albert, via
Internet
Response: You could get kicked out of the Scouts for using
logic like that. G.D.
11/19/02 The 11/15/02 Forum (with the Multi-Faith forum) was interesting and the people
seemed to enjoy it. I guess I just do not feel that we presented any other views
that were the opposite of the guests' nonsense. I believe we should have spoken up
loud and strong that their beliefs are BAWANA, bull----! I was prepared to present
my views but the time element did not permit. Just as well. Paul Lozowsky,
Massapequa, NY via Internet
Response: It really wasn't a night to give the opposite view
- we can do that any time. It should have been a night to hear THEM answer questions
they never get asked. It was not a debate. I wanted to hear what they had to
say, even if I disagreed. Audience input unfortunately leaned toward making
statements rather than asking pointed questions. G.D.
11/7/02 Dear Gerry, In your article "What Have We Learned" you express outrage
that two American citizens are being detained as enemy combatants and being denied due
rights. Have you considered the compelling reasons why or the legal precedents for such an
action.
During WW2 several German American citizens were also held as enemy combatants, a
distinction upheld by the US courts. In both cases these individuals were actively working
to attack americans ion behalf of a foreign enemy at war with the U.S. That this is
a defacto war is a distinction without a difference.
By denying these individuals the "right to remain silent" as you would when
interrogating any enemy soldier you might obtain vital life saving information. In
any case there are no massive violations of American citizens civil rights and if American
Taliban soldiers are being inconvenienced in their attempt to kill us so be it. John
Lucania, Whitestone via Internet.
Response: Overall, the practice of detaining American
citizens without charges was a disgrace if one also counts interment camps where
Japanese-Americans were held. There should be a mechanism to determine whether these
American citizens are indeed enemy combatants. Aren't you concerned about a system
where YOU can be held without charges, trial or access to an attorney based on the
decision of our President, a person not known for penetrating analysis? G.D.
[TOC]
THE PURPOSE OF GODS
Paul Lozowsky (adapted from essays by Emma Goldman)
Gods, gods what are they? Where are they? The philosophers are in
agreement that the conception of gods originated from fear and curiosity. Primitive
man, unable to understand the phenomena of nature and its violence and the changing world
saw in every terrifying manifestation some sinister force expressly directed at him; and
as ignorance and fear are the parents of all superstition, the troubled fancy of primitive
man wove the god idea.
It is common knowledge that all religions, with their demigods, their prophets, their
messiahs, and their saints were created by the prejudiced fancy of men who had not
attained the full development and full possession of their faculties. Consequently,
the religious heaven is nothing but the mirage in which humanity, exalted by ignorance and
faith, discovered their own image, but enlarged and reversed - that is divinised.
The history of religions of the birth, grandeur, and the decline of the gods who had
succeeded one another inhuman belief is nothing but the development of collective
intelligence and conscience of mankind.
The God idea revived and readjusted and enlarged or narrowed, according to the necessity
of the time, and has dominated humanity and will continue to do so until man will rise his
head to the sunlit day, unafraid and with an awakened will to himself. How far a man
will find his relation to his fellows will depend entirely on how much he can outgrow his
dependence upon God.
In our new times there are indications that theism, which is the theory of speculation, is
being replaced by ATHEISM, the science of demonstration; the one hangs in the metaphysical
clouds of the Beyond, while the other has its roots in the soil. IT IS THE EARTH, NOT
HEAVEN WHICH MAN MUST RESCUE, IF HE IS TO BE TRULY SAVED.
The decline of theism is most interesting whatever their brand. How to bring the masses
back to the God idea, the spirit, the First Cause, etc. - that is the most pressing
question to all theists. Religion, Divine Truth, rewards and punishments are the
trademarks of the largest, most corrupt and pernicious, the most powerful and lucrative
industry in the world. It is the industry of befogging the human mind and stifling
the human heart.
Perhaps humanity senses the fact that it is growing weary of the hundred and one brands of
God.
It is characteristic of theist "tolerance" that no one really cares what people
believe in, just so they believe in or pretend to believe, they try not to kill each other
any longer, instead have gatherings of all denominations, and forget that they have
different gods. The unbeliever, humanist, atheist is never invited.
Atheism - the philosophy has its roots in the earth, in this life: Its aim is the
emancipation of the human race from all Godheads, be they Judaic, Christian, Mohammedan,
Buddhistic, Braministic, or what not. Mankind has been punished long enough for having
crated its Gods: nothing but pain and persecution has been man's lot since gods began.
But there is a way out of this blunder: Man must break his fetters which have chained him
to the gates of heaven and hell, so that he can begin to fashion out his reawakening and
illumined consciousness a new world upon earth.
Beauty as a gift from heaven has proved useless: Man must find the beauty of life here on
earth, where he lives and in nature itself. There is no other place; science has
shown us where we came from and where we will go. Man's affirmation of man through
man, the yea to life, purpose and beauty. It is so simple and so easy.
[TOC]
ORIGINS - Part 4 Earth and the Birth of Life Oleg
Dei
The diversity of the phenomena of nature is so great…, precisely
in order that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment - Johannes
Kepler.
THE REALM OF THE COMETS
Drifting beyond the orbit of Neptune, at the outer reaches of the solar system is a vast
cloud containing countless number of comets, this region is known as the Oort cloud.
The Oort cloud may account for a significant fraction of the mass of the solar system,
however since comets are relatively small and at such distances hard to see, we could only
speculate on the number of comets that are contained in this region.
Further out on the very outskirts of the solar system is a disk shaped region containing
many small icy bodies, this area is known as the Kuiper Belt.
We are in the realm of the comets.
It is estimated that there are at least 35,000 objects in the Kuiper Belt, with diameters
greater than 100 km, this is several hundred times the number of similar sized objects in
the asteroid belt that is located between Mars and Jupiter.
With a diameter of about 170 km Chiron is about 20 times larger than Halley's comet;
acollision with Earth would be disastrous.
Recently various Kuiper Belt objects have been discovered, they appear to be small icy
bodies like Pluto only smaller, in total there are more than 300 known trans-Neptunian
objects.
Some astronomers believe that Pluto and its moon Charon are merely the largest examples of
the Kuiper Belt family of objects.
Because of their highly eccentric orbits, comet voyages take them far outside our solar
system.
Throughout man's recorded history, comets were always thought to be a prelude to
disaster. The most famous of all the comets is Halley's comet, which was named after
Edmund Halley, who in 1707 carefully calculated its 76 year orbit around the Sun.
Comets are famous for their long tails which develop as they approach the Sun.
Pushed back by the solar winds, the comets tail always point away from the Sun.
Recent scientific discoveries have shown that the composition of comets consists of a
rocky nucleus surrounded by icy particles.
During the latest visit of Hally's comet, astronomical observations have revealed that the
comet'snucleus is a twin peaked mountain, the size of Manhattan. An impact with
Haley's comet would be a global catastrophe, an extinction level event with perhaps as
much as 80 % of all life on earth - destroyed. It would most certainly be the
extinction of the human civilization, a disaster of unimaginable horror!
Throughout the history of life on Earth, impacts with comets and asteroids have profoundly
affected and altered the evolution of life on this planet, a topic we will explore in
future Origins. Our quest is to return to the third planet from the Sun, - Earth,
the home of the human civilization and begin our evolutionary journey.
On this relatively small planet, 4.6 billion years, matter has grown to consciousness and
ponders are we alone in the Cosmos?
EARTH
Here is a planet absolutely exploding with life. The planet Earth is a mix of
different and diverse ecosystems all supporting various forms of life. It is
astounding how different forms of life have adapted and flourish throughout this planet's
various ecosystems.
Earth's blue skies are filled with birds, mammals, and insects flying about. Lush
green forests and jungles support various forms of vegetation and animal life, from the
microscopic to the colossal. Oceans that cover 70 % of the surface of this planet,
are rich with marine life of various complexities and sizes, some yet to be discovered by
science. Deserts which are hot and arid, still manage to support an adapted
ecosystem of life. The polar caps with environments too severe to imagine, yet
somehow life manages to survive here. But how did life arise?
Was the Earth always inhabited with such a diversity of living things? In order to
find out, we have to travel back in time nearly 4.6 billion years and watch the evolution
of life on the planet Earth.
COLLISION OF THE AGES
Roughly 4.6 billion years ago, perhaps just 50 million years after the formation of the
Sun and the rest of the solar system, rocks, debris and asteroids that were not swept up
by the gravitational fields of the planets, were still flying around. The solar
system was still a very dangerous place, filled with collisions it was a cosmic demolition
derby. The Earth was still very young, and a hot ball of molten lava and just
perhaps the beginnings of an early primitive atmosphere.
Millions of years later a rogue planet roughly the size of Mars crashed into the
Earth. After side-swiping Earth a part of the intruder managed to survive but the
intruder was not finished. It slowed down and swung halfway around the Earth and
delivered a second devastating blow. This time the intruder was destroyed.
This was a series of violent collisions, the most violent impacts the Earth had suffered
since it formed, however there would be more dangerous impacts in the future and they
would affect the evolution of life. The energy released from the impacts was
tremendous, it was more than enough to blow away the Earth's primordial atmosphere back
into space. In addition Earth's mantle must have been heated to several thousand
degrees Celsius turning parts of it into a red hot magma ocean.
The result of these violent collisions ripped part of Earth's mantle and threw it into
space. A ring of debris formed around our planet. Eventually gravity pulled
some of the debris back to earth, while further out in Earth's orbit the second debris
field condensed to form the moon.
At the time of its birth, the moon was much closer to the Earth than it is today.
Gravitational interactions between Earth and the moon give rise to tidal forces that
pushed the moon outward to where it is today.
According to most astronomers today, the giant impact model is the runaway favorite model
for the birth of the moon. The reason for this is because it accounts for the moon's
makeup which hardly has any iron, and it explains the spin of the Earth - moon system, the
most important criteria that the model must meet. This theory was first proposed by
Harvard planetary scientists Alastair Cameron and William Ward in the early 1970's.
At about the same time William K. Hartmann and Donald Davis of the Planetary Science
Institute of Arizona arrived to the same conclusions. Computer simulations by Robin
Canup of Southwest Research Institute in Boulder Colorado has done much work in this area
and this remains so far the only theory that describes the poor iron composition of the
moon, as well as the correct spin rate or the angular momentum of the Earth - moon system.
THE BIRTH OF LIFE
About 4 billion years ago Earth was recovering from its double collision with the rogue
planet as well as the constant battering from smaller celestial objects. The moon
receded away, and slowly the Earth began to cool off. The primitive atmosphere reformed
again and water began to condense on its surface. Eventually the weather formed and
it began to rain, slowly cooling the planet further. With torrential downpours that
followed; oceans, lakes and rivers developed as they surrounded the forming continents.
But the continents and islands were barren and the primeval oceans lifeless, the music of
life was silent, life had not yet evolved. The young Earth was in the middle of
intense volcanic activity, spewing clouds of volcanic sulfur. The thick atmosphere
composed primarily of carbon dioxide dimmed the young Sun. The Earth was barren and
lifeless. The young Sun was cooler four billion years ago, It sent out approximately
25 percent less light and energy than it does today however this was offset by the
greenhouse effect of the atmosphere that was primarily composed of carbon dioxide.
Since there was no oxygen as of yet in the atmosphere, there was no ozone shield.
Three oxygen atoms comprise ozone. The oceans were acidic and loaded with ferrous
iron, phosphate and other minerals released by the early Earth.
The atmosphere that hung over the waters consisted of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen
sulfide and water vapor. A pale but unshielded Sun bathed the surface waters with
ultraviolet radiation, the warming light retained by the rich carbon dioxide
atmosphere. It was indeed a hostile alien world that no human or animal could
survive. The music of life would shortly begin to play its melodies.
On the surface of shallow waters the thick soup of organic chemistry was being cooked by
sunlight, nature the master chef was brewing the “stuff of life”. Organic
compounds brought to earth by asteroids, comets and meteorites were being prepared to make
an extravagant entrance. Down below, deep below the surface of the oceans,
deep-seated hydrothermal vents powered by the heat of the earth were cooking their own
recipe for life.
The seeds of life arose in the form of various combinations of the elements - carbon,
nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Life began and still is today, a series of
complex chemical reactions and under the influence of electrical charges, radiation and
volcanic activity the atoms were combined, reshuffled to produce amino acids the building
blocks of life.
Thiols are the equivalent of alcohol, in which the oxygen molecule is replaced by
sulfur. The thiol group is derived from hydrogen sulfide H2S, the vital gas of the
prebiotic world. When synthesized together with amino acids, thioesters formed
peptides, a complex molecule. The amino acids, thus became the building blocks for
making peptides and more complex carbon molecules.
Nature continued to experiment until the RNA molecule was formed. This lead to the
appearance of the complicated protein molecules. Soon this lead to the evolution of
the DNA molecule, soon the cosmos could make copies of itself.
Not long after the first proto-cells developed, at last the cosmos was alive. It
became the world of the microbes. We will explore the long and arduous process of
evolution that lead to us humans in future Origins but before we do we must understand the
importance of bacteria that led to the development of more complex life on Earth.
The next issue - Origins Part 5 - The Kingdom of the Microbes
(For Further reading: (1) Cosmos by Carl Sagan, Random House, Inc. (2) Astronomy -
September 1998 - Deconstructing the Moon by Ray Jayawardhana
Harvard University (3) Vital Dust - The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth - by
Christian De Duve - Nobel Laureate - Basic Books - Harper Collins Publishers)
[TOC]
MAKING THE ROUNDS WITH NORM
Norm Roscoe
Oct 27, Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, Garden City: What Kind
of Children do we hope for? Leader Richard Kiniry ponders the issue of what kind of
children do we hope for to come out of our public schools as well as Ethical Culture
education. Do we want good citizens who conform to rules and custom or do we seek
those who are innovators and maybe "trouble makers"?
Is there a pattern of ethics whether they are conformists or innovators? Kiniry was
not too optimistic about innovators being caring and ethical folk. Do we find that
young people are really selfish while appearing to be innovative? Do the conformist
worry about acceptance by peers rather than "do the right thing".
The message seems more pessimistic than my experiences would indicate. Where young
people have a positive self image they seem to be able to be positive innovators while at
the same time enhancing their group. Conversations with young folks from other
faiths traditions find this pattern. Enhancing positive self image seems key here.
Future programs that I will experience should help me bring this point to our
attention. We are hoping for further conversations not only among Humanist Coalition
people but maybe multi-Faith members.
November 3, 2002, Ethical Culture Society of Suffolk, Multi Faith Forum
"Do we need a Supreme Being to be Ethical?": Right from the top I found no such
need for the existence of a deity from any of the panelists which included Buddhist,
Native American, Baha'i and Hindu. These believers pointed out their preference in a
supreme being but it seemed obvious to me that they were quite open to those ethicists who
did not believe. They also used "situational” approaches when confronted
with dilemmas.
Some folks wanted a clearer cut response from the Ethical Culture perspectives even as I
thought this view was obvious. I do realize that a clearer statement to this effect
would have helped some audience members.
These folks of this panel seemed more concerned in deeds than creeds when they are amongst
multi faith or philosophical perspectives.
Nov. 10, 2002 Bellport UU Fellowship: On this Sunday I did a talk on
"Will the real God Stand Up." We found that modernist theologians were
redefining God so dramatically that we cannot understand the word. Only the classic
Theistic position is the one that we almost understand. However many liberal
religionists go for Pan-theism and some smaller group go for either pantheism or
Tillichian Anthropological Transcendence. We know about Pantheism: Nature is
God. Panentheism simply makes the universe an animate thing and this is god.
The Anthropological perspective simply means we look for our "ultimate" and call
this God.
We ended up searching for "honest" language that we can use with some
effectiveness.
We quoted Corliss Lamont and Julian Huxley in this area. We realized that it is the
supernatural question that we are concerned with.
This group was very responsive to my presentation and questions ended up dealing with
honest expression about how religion or philosophy can help us deal with real problems
such as ecological and other ethical areas.
Shelter Rock UU Society Nov. 4, 2002: On this night we heard a talk by
Bishop Spong on his latest book on what is wrong with Christianity and how to help remedy
it. After reading "Why Christianity Must Change or Die" I fail to see his
making any progress with the new book. He points out the problems with Christianity
and the old supernatural ways and tries to make Paul Tillich the savior along with a few
bits of his own efforts for solutions.
Refer back to my reference to "the real god" issue above and you see the
attempts by redefining god again.
These last two items would eliminate the definition of Atheism with these new
interpretations. Basically it amounts to getting rid of the supernatural practicing
the "new improved" Christianity.
I only ask for the most effective language; most Multi-Faith folks seem to use the Classic
Theism. At least they are being more honest if not at least more effective in
language choice.
LISH's Multi-faith forum, Plainview-Old Bethpage Public library, 11/15/02,
panelists Rev. Mark Bigelow, Werner Reich, Sanaa Nadim & Raj Singh. Topic: What
do religious folks think about the non-religious? In general this panel seems to have
elicited a wide range of response from different people. I felt that Sanaa, and Raj
presented their views from the perspectives of their faiths and tried to reach out more
easily to other faiths, and even tried to reach out to non believers still struggling with
this issue. Our Jewish panelist, Werner Reich, made the point of the personal nature
of religion and wished to not be interfered with by outside forces. He did struggle
with the "Godless" term. Was it a connotationally loaded word or did it
really mean "less or unethical"?
Rev Bigelow took the modernist Protestant view which some would call “Liberal,”
adapting beliefs to modern conditions.
Some folks felt that Mr. Reich made good points; others thought Rev. Bigelow was eloquent,
and that the two women panelists made efforts to be tolerant.
Panelists felt that had they been prepared for the format they would have been more
prepared for not only the early portion of the evening where incidents of bias against
non-theists were listed but also for some of the questions from the audience though most
of the questions raised seemed quite relevant in their eyes. I hope that in future
programs when we invite guests from a different perspective that we at LISH prepare them
for the program better than was done this time.
One other item that Rev Bigelow mentioned: He received a phone call from a man who was
quite angry for his speaking to a Secular Humanist group. The name he recalled was
John Narrod (apologies to the real Mr. Narrod if this is inaccurate.) Unbeknownst to
Rev. Bigelow at the time, the library informed LISH that it also received some calls the
next day claiming that atheism was proselytized during the LISH forum. If this were
true, according to Library rules, LISH would not be allowed to conduct future forums
there. The library was assured that it was not true and that the complainants likely
did not attend the forum. If we have any further info Rev. Bigelow would appreciate
a follow-up on this.
Rev. Bigleow made it a point to indicate that he recognized that we did NOT engage in any
proselytizing and indicated that it was good that the library was a place where such
divergent views could be exchanged.
After the forum, the LISH Board of Directors was invited to take part in a dinner
celebration at the nearby Sikh Center and the Board was treated to a wonderful meal and
generous hospitality. LISH certainly wants to give special thanks to Raj Singh and
all the panelists for persevering through what was most likely a more challenging forum
than they typically encounter.
Multi-faith Forum, Saturday Nov 16, 2002, Manorville: On this evening
there was a panel featuring young people from four different faiths. The moderator
was Naomi Dunn (Baha'i) and the panelists were Nivea Kothari (Jain), Jessica Taneja (Sikh)
and Unitarian Universalist Graham Capobianco with Elizabeth Capobianco standing by.
It was a wonderful experience to see young people discussing their religions and how it
affected their lives. They talked about a range of items from dating to life
values. The concept of tolerance was highlighted.
Our Unitarian Universalist pointed out his agnostic stance and how he arrived at his
ethics through life experiences and "family values". The other panelists
were well prepared and spoke effectively from their faith perspectives. The
moderator did a wonderful job in her role.
As I watched this panel in action I wonder about the future of our Humanist
movement. I look at most memberships and see a much older population. Even
with Ethical Humanism and Unitarian Universalism I see some tough times ahead. I
feel we should make efforts to address this issue. I hope to engage in programs in
the near future in this area.
Suffolk Ethical Culture Sunday Nov 17, Smithtown: Ed Klein, Leader, and
President of the Queens Society for Humanistic Judaism addressed this group on this
day. Relating his personal experiences he took us through the entire Jewish spectrum
going from Orthodox, Conservative, Reform followed by Reconstructionism and finally
Humanistic Judaism. This was a wonderful exposition of his journey. Ed showed
wonderful knowledge in this area and his understanding of the Old Testament and challenged
many with difficult interpretations and skillful solutions to unique problems. We
received a wonderful overview of the Jewish community and a special improved understanding
of Humanism from a Jewish perspective. We wonder how much Humanists know about the
Bible; it is clear that Ed Klein along with Len Cherlin, another Humanist Jewish
representative and Coalition member, has a wonderful knowledge of the Old Testament of the
Bible.
It is great relating with our coalition partners throughout the year.
Bellport UU, November 24: On this day Narinder Kapoor, Hindu panelist
from the Multi Faith Forum, spoke before the UU fellowship about his Hindu
tradition. He was accompanied by Sangeeta Kulkarni. Similarities with Buddhism
were very pronounced with the importance of Karma. (You sow what you reap.)
This application of deed emphasis was highlighted over the god question. The
multi-god image was discussed as seeing the one prevailing god in various settings.
The reincarnation question was discussed. Yes there is belief in
reincarnation. We recognize that the Hindus maintain some of these beliefs.
What were most emphasized however were the ethical features and attitudes toward those who
believe other than the Hindu line. When our speaker was questioned about non
believers he indicated that if the Karma is good their god recognizes these folks (non
believers) as deserving of positive results.
I continue to see that many people of various beliefs still seem to return to life
experiences as guides for actions. Common ground seems easily found here.
Sangeeta displayed the clothes and other items worn by Hindus and the meaning behind such
items.
Ethical Culture of Suffolk Smithtown, Dec 1: On this day John Valente and
I led a discussion on ethics and how to raise a moral child. This Book by Arthur
Dobrin was the guide in this discussion. This book "Forty Ways to Raise a Moral
Child" looked at the moral development of children using Piaget and Kohlberg
guidelines. Dobrin has written a number of publications related to this subject with
considerable responses from a number of media outlets. As we look at various ethical
sources we find that common ground continues to appear. Paul Kurtz' “Common
Moral Decencies,” Ethical Culture's eight principles and Unitarian Universalist seven
principles are quite in harmony. All of these are arrived at with human
experiences. There seems to be no place for any divine revelation and given
commandments. We live and interact and find the best ways to behave. As we go
through the development of children and to adulthood this progression is observable.
I did highlight the importance of Self image and the importance of the feeling of having
some degree of control (for oneself, not over others). We find that much violence
seems to be rooted in frustration and anger and maybe the need to lash out.
Communities such as our humanist group seem to provide a place for us to be supportive of
others in our tradition. [TOC]
QUICKIES! Gerry Dantone
Item: (AHA) In November President Bush signed into law a bill reaffirming the reference in
the Pledge of Allegiance to ours being one nation “under God.” Congress
was overwhelmingly supportive of this latest legislation with only Barney Frank of
Massachusetts, Michael Honda and Pete Stark of California, Jim McDermott of Washington,
and Bobby Scott of Virginia voting against the measure.
Comment: I guess we're just a country that is indivisible -
except by God, and the Pledge is a device that sets out to divide us, not unite us.
Guess that's it.
Item: (AP) Pope John Paul II made a historic speech to Italy's parliament, urging Italians
to work for world peace, uphold their Christian values - and have more babies. The
Pope's speech was well received, being interrupted by applause 20 times. While Italy
is largely Roman Catholic, the Church's teachings against birth control are not
enthusiastically followed and Italy has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, at
1.23 children per woman. The US average is 2.1 children per woman.
Comment: It is interesting how warmly welcomed someone can
be who happens to be telling you that you probably deserve eternal punishment - for a
victimless crime no less. It must be the pointy hat distracting the lawmakers.
Imagine if an atheist addressed a Congress or Parliament and told them, “You (or most
of this society) deserve to be tormented every day forever for the crime of using condoms,
having vasectomies or taking the birth control pill!” How much applause would
that generate? Go figure…
Item: The editor of Catholic World Report wrote, in a column in Newsday, that “while
only a tiny minority of American priests have molested children, a clear majority of
American bishops - two thirds, according to the Dallas Morning News - have covered up the
abuse, or shuffled the offending priests from parish to parish to avoid complaints.
So the scandal that wracks the church today is not merely a crisis of sexual abuse.
It is also a crisis of episcopal neglect and even episcopal corruption… the crisis in
American Catholicism will not end until the US bishops recognize their own side of the
scandal.”
Comment: The bishops should work for world peace, uphold
Christian values, and have more babies. Oh wait! I'm getting my Papal advice
confused!
Item: (ZPG Reporter) In a shocking and disastrous policy reversal, President George W.
Bush announced that the US would no longer provide any funding for the life-saving and
world improving work of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The $34million
that was approved by Congress would be permanently withheld.
The administration claimed it was doing so because UNFPA supports China's coercive
population policies. In fact, numerous fact-finding teams, including one appointed
by Bush himself, have found that UNFPA works to eliminate coercion in China's program and
develop programs that give women choices in family planning. It is assumed that Bush
ignored his own fact-finding team in deference to a small but vocal group of religious
conservatives who oppose all forms of family planning. These efforts have been led
by Chris Smith (R-NJ), a legislator who once called birth control pills “baby
pesticides” and the Population Research Institute.
Comment: You wonder what nonsense goes through these kinds
of minds: It is estimated by the Population Connection that this lack of funding will lead
to 2,000,000 unwanted pregnancies, 77,000 infant and child deaths, 60,000 cases of
maternal illnesses, 4,700 maternal deaths and, ironically and stupidly, 800,000
abortions. Well, I guess one sin is the same as another to a fanatic.
Item: (Voice Of Reason) An independent Baptist School in Lexington, North Carolina removed
a 15-year-old student because he was Catholic. The school's policy claims that it
admits students “whose parents are in agreement with the Christian philosophy,
purposes and standards of the school.”
Comment: Obviously, according to these Baptists, Catholics
do not meet these standards - why is anyone surprised? And by the way, this
government believes it should use Catholic tax dollars to pay for vouchers for the parents
of good Baptist children to go to this fine school.
Item: (NY Daily News) Mayor Bloomberg of NYC announced plans to charge all non profits
including churches $210/hour for their annual fire inspections. A number of church
leaders expressed outrage. “We're not getting a dime from the city or
government for our food programs,” said Bishop Johnson who heads a church in Bedford
Stuyvesant. “It's not a question of ability to pay. It's a question of
ethical content,” said the pastor of Brooklyn's Bethany Baptist Church.
Comment: It is obvious that the pastors have collective
amnesia: Churches receive incredible real estate tax exemptions that other non-profit
groups do not necessarily receive, in effect giving them a privilege that secular
charities and non-profits may not enjoy. In addition, a church is under no
obligation to be charitable, and many are not. In fact, churches have the right to
spread bigotry and hatred, discriminate and divide, and again, many do exactly that while
enjoying tax free privileges. This occurs even they are receiving fire and police
protection among many other government services at no cost.
Imagine this: The Catholic Church hierarchy, which has often not had the decency to report
credible cases of child rape to the police, is real estate tax exempt while other solely
charitable non-profits may have to pay real estate taxes. Yes, the parents of
children molested by a church leader and covered up by that church may be subsidizing
governmental services for that church. Church tax exemptions help to allow churches
to afford hush money in these cases. Churches should be treated no differently than
other non-profit organizations. Mayor Bloomberg has taken a small step in the right
direction. [TOC]
MYTHS TO LIVE BY, AND TO KILL FOR
John Rafferty
I have occasionally been admonished by friends that mocking the mythologies of religion,
in particular the “bible stories” of the Judeo-Christian tradition, is to miss
the point of the “larger truths” of religion and its ethical imperatives, yadda,
yadda. But I believe it is the myths of religion that are important, not the moral
precepts.
Consider the mythologies on which “the world's great religions” are based.
The “religions of The Book” - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - all say we were
created - all at once, exactly as we are today - from dust in a garden on an October
morning 6,006 years ago, five days after the universe itself was formed all at once,
exactly as it is today. (Actually, some of us, a lower order of being, were
fashioned from an extra rib the more important creation didn't need.) All done in
six days by an all-seeing, almighty being Who was nevertheless vain enough to make a
creature in His own image who would then worship Him, and whom He could punish with
eternal agony if the poor creature didn't do the worshipping properly. I'm not
making that up: you know it's in the book.
Of course The Book has been variously interpreted and amended. It was the Christians
who took the Hebrew notion of Gehenna, and added the idea of everlasting, fiery Hell for
missing mass on Sunday or reading Playboy. And it was Islam that refined the message
even further, adding virgins in Paradise and jihad on earth. Mormons, in latter
times (pun intended), subscribed to The Book, too, as well as to some tablets of gold -
inscribed by an angel aptly if ineptly named “Moroni” - that were dug up in
someone's back yard in upstate New York a while ago, and which mysteriously disappeared
before anyone but the digger-upper could see them. And, of course, for a truly
modern offshoot of the Bible, there's impressaria Mary Baker Eddy's extravaganza,
Christian Science, the “science” of which is based on the idea that the material
world - you know, the world in which we live - doesn't exist. Which is a little like
Buddhism, isn't it? But anyway, that's why Christian Scientists don't need doctors -
pancreatic cancer is all in your head.
If you can't quite swallow the loony mythology-cosmology of the Hebrew-Christian-Muslim
bible, try the creation mythology on which the religions of India and China are
based. Let's see: Vishnu, one of the most powerful gods - he's the blue one with
four hands who flies through the skies on an eagle - Vishnu turns himself into a
cosmos-sized turtle at the bottom of an ocean of milk. (I don't know why, he just
does.) From his back, his turtle shell, rises the axis of the world, Mount
Mandara. A giant serpent is wrapped around the mountain, and other gods (where did
they come from?), grasping each end of the serpent, pull it in both directions, setting it
spinning. The cosmic milk churns, and the elements of creation spout forth.
This cosmology, which I call The Dreidel Theory Of Creation, is basic to Hinduism, which
has almost as many multiply-armed and animal-headed gods as it has worshippers.
Because it became so complicated - and let's face it, downright weird - Hinduism gave rise
to a purer form, Jainism, which almost immediately split itself into two sects: one
believes in wearing clothes, the other does not.
I am not making this up.
And, at about the same time the Jainists were bloodying each other over the presence or
absence of loincloths or knickers, some people began following an ex-playboy Indian prince
who came to be known as The Buddha. A 6th-century BCE Indian version of a rock star,
Buddha got religion after he'd completely partied himself out, then spent the rest of his
life preaching that everyone else should skip the same kind of fun he had first, should
not pass Go-Go, and should instead proceed directly to the monastery. Celebrities
have been doing the same ever since, the latest being our sobered-up President - although
in light of recent events, I guess we're glad he's not drinking - and Jane Fonda.
Anyway, Buddhism is based on the same silly cosmic turtle mythology as Hinduism and
Jainism, but has added the stultifying concept of life as essentially bondage to eternally
repeating cycles of ignorance, birth, desire and death. And its eschatological goal
can be summed up as: “Stop the world, I want to get off.”
Am I making fun? Yes. Is making fun of the mythological bases of “the
great religions” unfair, when one considers the ethical systems, the philosophies,
the civilizations that arose from those religions? No. Because it is not
principles, ethical systems or philosophies over which people kill each other - it's their
idiotic religious mythologies. All the world's religions - and our born-again
President - tell us that we can't have ethics without religion. But the fact is that
ethics, humanity, altruism - all the good things in human nature - grow in our societies
in spite of religion's mythologies.
Look at the best part of each religion, those ethical or moral precepts that define a good
life. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, those are enshrined in the last six or seven
of the Ten Commandments with which we are all familiar. I quote from the Revised
English Bible, and after number four, honor your father and mother, they are: Do not
commit murder; Do not commit adultery; Do not steal; Do not give false evidence; Do not
covet your neighbor's household, and Do not covet your neighbor's wife.
Compare those to the moral precepts that are the foundation of Buddhist practice.
Buddhist monks are expected to observe ten major precepts, including the likes of not
eating at improper times of day, and not sleeping in high and wide beds. But
ordinary people like you and me and Richard Gere are expected to keep at least the first
five: No taking of life; No stealing; No unchaste acts; No false speaking; No drinking of
intoxicants. (So, I guess sharing a beef jerky and a beer at midnight with one's
naked friend in a king-size bed puts one on the fast track to life as a cockroach the next
time around.) But anyway, compare those precepts, too, with specific prohibitions in
the Koran that forbid wine, gambling, usury, fraud and slander.
Almost interchangeable, right? Murder, adultery, lying - all wrong in every
religion. Which means that the human notion of right, of ethics, of justice,
transcends religion. The principles, the ethical concepts that religion usurps are
not dependent upon religion, but are intrinsic to our nature as human beings, and are,
therefore, religiously irrelevant.
What distinguishes one religion from another is mythology. What religions burn
heretics over, what religions go to war over, are their mythologies. No fanatic of
one religion is killing people of another religion to prove to the world that he doesn't
bear false witness or sleep in big beds. Hindus don't hate Muslims because the Koran
requires Muslims to give alms generously; they're killing Muslims - and Sikhs, too - over
temple sites in India that are supposedly the scene of miracles. Muslims wage bloody
war for possession of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, not for an ethical principle or
because Jews drink wine, but because Mohammed rose to heaven from that mount.
Yeah, he did, really. The fact that another, earlier and much more historically
reliable tradition says that he died in his beloved third wife's arms, nowhere near
Jerusalem, which he never visited, is irrelevant. In religious mythology, logical
contradictions are part of the fun - until people begin to fight and die over of them.
Christians butchered each other centuries ago, not over anything Jesus taught, but about
whether the eucharistic wafer was actually or symbolically his body and blood. They
launched bloody Crusades against Islam, not in obedience to any of Jesus' precepts, but
because “the Holy Land” was where he turned water into wine, walked on some
other water, raised Lazarus, and came back from the dead himself. No, really, he
did.
Laughable. And we must laugh, because there is nothing as liberating as laughter,
nothing as destructive as ridicule. Of course, it's easy to laugh at the fatheads
when they come to our doors with the “good news” of their mythologies, but it is
just as important to fight - including with laughter - the more subtle idiocies of the
apologists for religion who, unable to square their ridiculous mythologies with the plain
facts of science and reason, spread the stupidity that science and religion pursue
different truths. Different truths? What a concept! Truth is truth, and
anything else is laughable, if not vicious.
But apologists for religion - and too many rationalists and skeptics, I think - try to
make science and reason palatable to the popular mind by “making nice.”
Science doesn't threaten religion, they temporize “nicely,” because science and
religion pursue those so-called “different truths.” Geology and carbon
dating may prove God didn't create heaven and earth in six days, and Darwinian evolution
may prove He didn't make man on the sixth day. But that doesn't mean the bible
stories can't be metaphorically true … allegorically true … metaphysically true
… anything but simply and just-plain true. And it doesn't mean that somehow in
the cosmic somewhere there isn't a benevolent Creator Who set it all in motion according
to some wonderful plan that included galaxies, rainbows and buttercups … and
cockroaches, Alzheimer's and pediatric AIDS.
Baloney. I'll take that cosmic turtle; at least it's funny.
[TOC]
SECULAR
HUMANISM is the philosophy of life guided by reason and science, freed from religious and
secular dogmas, motivated by an appreciation of life and the lives of others, seeking to
reach goals of human happiness, freedom and understanding on this earth, in this life.
Become a Member of LISH
Membership in LISH has its benefits! Membership entitles one to:
use of the LISH Freethought library; voting rights; mailed newsletters; invitations to
non-public functions, dinners, and movies and plays as well!
Let us grow into the humanist voice of Long Island! Only $40 for
membership for one year, $5 more for each extra family member who seeks voting rights, or
$12 per year for the newsletter only. Send a check with your name, address and phone
number, to LISH, Box 119, Greenlawn, NY 11740.
LISH ON CABLE!
“Long Island Secular Humanists; What is Secular Humanism?” a
LISH one-hour self-produced show, will be shown on the Woodbury Cablevision system,
Channel 20 @ 6:30PM Tuesdays; on the Hauppauge & Brookhaven Cablevision systems, it
will be aired Tuesdays @ 7:00 PM on channel 20.
Also be sure to watch:
"Humanist Perspective" hosted by Joe Beck, on Cablevision
Public Access, can be seen Wednesdays @ 7:00PM PM (NEW TIME!) on Channel 20 on the
Woodbury, Hauppauge and Brookhaven systems.
WBAI 99.5 FM Radio
EQUAL TIME FOR FREETHOUGHT!
Listen to the show for and by humanist, freethinkers, atheists,
agnostics, etc. on Sundays @ 6:30 PM, WBAI FM, 99.5 the dial.
FREETHOUGHT CALENDAR!
The 2003 version of the Council for Secular Humanism's Freethought
Calendar features Robert G. Ingersoll! Great pictures and dates of significance to
humanists and all freethinkers are featured in this handsome calendar.
Send only $10 to LISH, PO Box 119, Greenlawn, NY, 11740.
TRANSCRIPTS!
We now have a number of transcripts available of LISH forums at the
Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library and other locations.
Among the availabilities transcripts are “Darwin, the Other Great Emancipator”
by Elof Carlson; “Don't You Believe in Anything?” by Ron Barrier; “Darwin
Before the Penny Dropped,” by Hugh Rance; “Misconceptions on Evolution and
Creationism” by Kieran McNulty; “What Is Separation of Church and State?”,
“Media Infidels” “Why We Need a Humanist Coalition on Long Island,”
“The Ten Commandments in Public Facilities,” “James Madison and
Separation,” “Why Be Good?” and “Science and Creationism,” by
Gerry Dantone.
LISH members ONLY or the media can email LISecHum@aol.com to request a copy.
SOS Meeting on Long
Island!
SOS is a program for those who abuse alcohol or other substances.
Unlike Alcoholics Anonymous, it does not require that those attending meetings accept the
religious claims of the program.
The meeting is in the North Fork of Long Island, N.Y. The contact person is Matthew
R., 631-477-0746. The meetings are each Tuesday from 6 to 7 P.M., at the Unitarian
Universalist Church, Main Road, Route 25, Southold, Suffolk County, NY.
The home page of SOS is http://www.secularsobriety.org. This web site has much
information for downloading on running SOS groups.
The Science Club
LISH will be providing LI Humanist Coalition members the opportunity to
view outstanding science videos and participate in discussions in LISH member homes, and
if necessary, larger settings. A schedule of videos, all to be shown at Warren &
Mary Jane's home, in Patchogue, as follows:
Jan 14, 2003 - Cosmos - episode # 1 - The Shores Of The Cosmic Ocean
Jan 28, 2003 - Cosmos - episode # 2 - One Voice in the Cosmic Fugue
Feb 11, 2003 - Cosmos - episode # 3 - The Harmony of the Worlds
Feb 25, 2003 - Cosmos - episode # 4 - Heaven and Hell!
For further info or to confirm the location or schedule episodes contact Norm Roscoe at
normrhum@aol.com. This series is open to all Humanist coalition members. Hope
to hear from you soon.
Book Discussion Club!
The Book Club meets in member homes. If you are
interested email LISH for addresses. All meetings are at 8 PM unless otherwise
noted.
Date: 10 January 2003, Place: Baldwin, NY , Book: Richard Hofstadter, "American
Political Tradition" (second half).
Date: 14 February, 2003, Place: Commack, NY, Book: Gordan Prange, "At Dawn We
Slept (first half),
Date: 14 March, 2003, Place: Amityville, NY, Book: Gordan Prange, "At Dawn We
Slept" (second half).
Date: 11 April, 2003, Place: , Massapequa, NY, Book: Susan Blackmore, "The Meme
Machine".
LISH Email Action Info!
To encourage LISH member letters to the editor, here are email
addresses of local print media: Daily News, voicers@edit.nydailynews.com; NY Magazine,
NYLetters@primediamags.com; NY Post, letters@nypost.com; NY Press, mugger@nypress.com; NY
Times, letters@nytimes.com; New Yorker, themail@newyorker.com; Newsday,
letters@newsday.com; USA Today, editor@usatoday.com; Village Voice,
editor@villagevoice.com; Wall Street Journal, editors@interactive.wsj.com.
All articles in this newsletter
may be reprinted by organizations affiliated with the Council for Secular Humanism,
American Atheists or the American Humanist Association, with a reciprocating reprinting
agreement with LISH, so long as the article is used in full and with complete
crediting. Edited versions can be used with written permission.
Editor: Gerald Dantone
Design: John Wilmarth
A Thumbs Up Publication
Copyright LISH 2003 [TOC]